Hernial truss.



No; 861,257. 'PATENTED JULY 30, 19017.

. v J. w. BUNKER.

HERNIAL TRUSS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT..19, 190s. RENEWED D30. 13. 1905.

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PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

J. W. BUNKER.

HERNIAL TRUSS. V APPLIOATION 11.31) SEPT. 19, 1903. RENEWED DEC. 13, 1905.

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WNW s rmps JOHN W. BUNKER, OF

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NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BUNKER TRUSS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HERNIAL TRUSS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed September 19, 1903, Serial No. 173,749. Renewed December 13, 1905. Serial No. 291,652.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BUNKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hernial Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in trusses for treating hernia or rupture.

The objects of the invention are First: To provide a most simple, durable and practical construction of surgical truss of that kind which comprises a pad having a series of spring tension devices thereon to be engaged by the ends of the belt and an end of the crotch strap respectively, said parts so related to each other that when outward pressure is imposed on the straps, by expansion of the abdomen, in coughing or bending forward, for instance, the outer ends of the spring devices will move away from each other, thus giving the effect of an elongation of the straps, while their inner ends will press upon the outer face of the pad and hold the same bodily and firmly upon the wound: whereby there is a sufficiently firm pressure imposed on the ruptured parts at all times to efficiently prevent protrusion without necessitating an uncomfortable pressure of the straps at any time on the wearer. Second: To provide a truss of the kind stated, wherein the pressure of the pad may be an upward or a downward one toward the wearer, thus according best with the requirements of such pressure, which differ with different ruptures, the tendency toward protrusion in some being in a downward direction and in others in an upward direction. Third: To so improve the means for attaching the pad to the person of the wearer as to most readily adapt the same to hernia on either the right or left side, to adapt the attaching means to different sizes of wearers and to render the same most comfortable to the wearer.

To these several ends the invention consists in certain peculiarities in the construction of parts and in novel combinations of elements substantially as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truss embodying the present improvements, showing the same adjusted for hernia of the left side and with the spring devices arranged to give upward pressure. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the truss adjusted for rupture of the right side and showing the spring tension devices arranged to give upward pressure. Fig. 3 isa side view of the device. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the pad. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the plate and the spring tension devices carried by the same. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing the means for attaching the spring tension devices to the plate. Fig. 9 is a view of a modified .form in which the spring tension devices are arranged for downward pressure.

The same numerals of reference designate the same parts in the several views.

1 designates the pad, which is made of suitable mate rial and shape and has a peripheral flange 2 which bounds a space 3 in its forward face. Within this space is located a separately formed plate 4, which is preferably formed of metal. Mounted on said plate 4 are a series (preferably three) of spring tension devices, A, B and O. Two of these devices (A and B) are located approximately opposite each other and the third one (C) is mounted intermediately of said two and below the center of the plate. The first two are designed to be connected with the belt or strap which encircles the waist of the wearer, while the third one is intended to be connected with the crotch strap, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The several spring tension devices are of identical construction and hence a description of one will suffice for all. It is preferably formed of spring wire, bent near its ends to form coils 5, 5 which are connected with each other by an outwardly extending part 6 of loop form, and the extremities '7 of the wire extend from the coils 5, respectively, toward and bear upon the plate 4 to which they are secured by clips 8 the ends of which extend through suitable openings formed in the plate and are bent in opposite directions to form holding prongs 9 engaging the rear face of said plate.

Mounted on the front face of the plate 4 is a ring 10 which extends through the coils of the several spring tension devices and is secured by straps 11 to the face of said plate 4.

l2 designates a cap which is preferably stamped from sheet metal and has a peripheral flange 13. This cap forms with the plate f an inclosed chamber 14 within which the spring tension devices are located and from which the loops 6 project through elongated openings 15 formed in the face and flange of said cap. Said open ings correspond in number and relative location with the sides or arms of the loops and hence there is also provided for each loop a projection 17 which extends through said loop and occupies the space between the sides thereof. Each loop is thus permitted to move back and forth and is guided in its said movements.

It will be noted that in the form shown in Fig. 9, all

the spring tension devices (A B and G) are located below the line of the center of the pad, while in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the two side tension devices A and B are located above the center of the pad. In the first form the pressure of the pad upon the rupture is in an upward direction, while in the other form said pressure has a downward tendency, thus according with the tendency of the protrusion oi the wound, which is sometimes upward and sometimes downward.

1S and 19 designate the straps which. secure the truss to the person of the wearer. Strap 18 constitutes a belt which encircles the waist of the wearer and has its ends secured to the loops 6 of the tension devices A and B, (or A and B) While strap 19 has one end secured to the loop G of the device O and its other end secured to said belt, by the means hereinafter described.

In the application of the truss to the wearer the straps are drawn sufliciently tight to incline the loops 6 and thus impose tension on the springs 5, causing the latter to press the free extremities 7 of the several tension devices and thereby hold the pad with a firm pressure upon the rupture. Any additional strain put upon the straps, such as occurs when the wearer bendsiorward or coughs, for example, causes the loops 6 of said spring tension devices to move outward from each other. Two important results flow from this movement of the loops, as follows: first, it gives the effect of an. elongation oi the straps so that they freely accommodate themselves to the expanded condition of the abdominal region, thus obviating the discomlort which would occur from an increase of the pressure of the straps upon the wearer, and, second, it increases the tension of the springs and causes the pad to be pressed more firmly upon the wound and thus most efliciently prevents protrusion oi the rupture. It will be observed that the movement of the pad is a bodily one, whereby the tendency for it to dig into the wound is corrected.

Sewed or otherwise suitably secured to the outer face of the belt or strap 18 is a band 20 which is divided to form separate compartments 21, which are open at top and bottom. Any one of these compartments is adapted to receive a loop 22, which is secured to the end of the strap 19 and embraces the upper edge of said band. By this means the strap 19 is adjustably and removably secured to the belt, and at the same time a smooth surface is always presented to the person of the wearer. Moreover, as the compartments 21 are open at both top and bottom, the belt may be reversed to adapt the same truss to be used for either a right or a left side rupture. To the latter end also, the straps are provided with means permitting them to be readily engaged with and disengaged from their respective loops 6. The means for this purpose preferably employed, comprise loops 23 and 24 connected to the respective ends of the belt 18, and a loop 25 suitably connected with the end of the crotch strap 19. The connection oi the several strap ends with the said loops may be, as represented on the belt, by means of eyes 26 through which the belt ends extend and adjacent to which said ends are engaged by a buckle 27 for securing the same adjustably, or as represented in connection with the crotch strap, the loop may be a part of the buckle, 28, being pivotally mounted on a bar of the latter.

In order to change the truss from its position ior a lelt side rupture to a right side one, it is only necessary to move the pad and the parts thereon from one side to the other, detach the straps therefrom, reverse the belt and reattach. the crotch strap to the belt and the loop 6 of the tension device O and to the belt, which changes may be most rapidly made by the described connecting means.

A most desirable means for securing the cap 12 and plate 4, with their inclosed tension devices, to the pad 1, comprises a post 30, which projects from the pad 1 through said plate and to'the inner surface of the cap, and a screw 31 which extends from the outer side of the cap and has its stem threaded into the contiguous end of said post.

Having thus described the invention, What I believe to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent and what I therefore claim, is

1. A truss comprising a pad having a recess in its face, a plate arranged in said recess contiguous to the bottom thereof, a cap having elongated openings, said parts being arranged to form an inclosed chamber, means for securing said parts together, and spring tension devices. arranged in said chamber and having outwardly extending parts projecting through said opening, said tension devices comprising coiled springs arranged intermediate of their ends and having their extremities projecting inward from said springs and engaged with said plate to thereby press and hold the same when the springs are put under tension.

2. A truss, comprising a pad, :1 plate mounted on said pad, a cap mounted on said plate and forming therewith an inclosed chamber, said cap having elongated openings, :1 post extending from said pad, a screw extending through said cap and threaded into said post, a series of spring tension devices arranged in said chamber and each having an outwardly projecting part extending through the adjacent opening in the cap, free ends bearing upon said plate and coiled springs intermediate of said free ends and outwardly projecting part, and straps engaging the outwardly projecting parts of the spring tension devices, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

3. A truss, comprising a pad, :1 plate mounted on said pad, a cap mounted on said plate and forming therewith an inclosed chamber, said cap having elongated openings,

means for securing said parts together, a series of spring tension devices arranged in said chamber and supported on said plate, each comprising free ends secured to said plate, coiled springs contiguous to said free ends and loops connecting said coil springs and extending outward through the contiguous opening in the cap, a supporting means attached to said plate and extending through said coiled springs, and straps engaging the outwardly pro jecting parts of said tension devices, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a truss, the combination with a pad and a series of spring tension devices thereon, of a reversible belt having its ends removably attached to two of said tension devices, said belt having its outer surface provided with means forming a compartment which -is open throughout its length and at both top and bottom, and a strap having one end removably attached to a third tension device and its other end extended through said compartment and adapted to engage with either edge of the same.

5. In a truss, the combination with a pad and a series of spring tension devices thereon, of a reversible belt having its ends removably attached to two of said tension devices, said belt having its outer surface provided with a band divided into a plurality of compartments located side by side and open at both top and bottom, and a strap having one end removably attached to a third tension de vice and its other end adapted to engage either edge of either of said compartments, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a truss,'the combination with a pad and a series of. spring tension devices thereon, of a reversible belt having metal loops to engage contiguous tension devices, saidbelt having its outer surface provided with means forming a compartment which is open at both top and bottom, and a strap having loops at its end, one to engage a tension device and the other being rigid and having a turned over edge adapted to engage either edge of said means forming centers at one and the same side of the horizontal center of said pad, a third tension device located intermediately of said pair and at one side of said center of the pad, each of said spring tension devices having free ends adapted to press the pad inwardly, outwardly projecting parts and intermediate coiled springs, and straps engaged with said outwardly projecting parts and putting tension on said springs, whereby an upward or downward pressure may be imparted to said pad. 1

8. A truss comprising a pad having a covering cap provided with elongated openings; a plate mounted on the pad below said cap, a plurality of spring tension devices mounted upon said plate and above and below the hori zontal center of the pad, each of said spring tension devices having free ends adapted to press the pad inwardly, outwardly projecting parts and intermediate coiled springs, and means for attaching the pad to the wearer comprising strap ends connected with the outwardly projecting parts of the spring tension devices and independently adjustable.

9. A truss comprising a pad, a plate mounted on said pad and having a circumferential flange and forming with said plate an inclosed space, means for attaching said parts together, a plurality of spring tension devices arranged in said space and at opposite sides of the center thereof, each of said devices comprising an outwardly projecting part extending through said cap, coiled springs connected with the same and end portions projecting from the springs toward said plate; and means for attaching the pad to the wearer, comprising strap ends connected with the outwardly-projecting parts of the spring tension devices and independently adjustable.

10. A truss comprising a pad, having a recess in its face, a plate arranged in said recess contiguous to the bottom thereof, and a cap having a circumferential flange projecting into said recess and contiguous to the wall thereof, said parts arranged to form an inclosed chamber and said cap having elongated openings which extend to said pad, means for securing said parts together, and spring tension devices arranged in said chamber and having outwardly extending parts projecting through said openings in the cap and adapted to traverse the same, said tension devices having within said chamber coiled springs and inwardly projecting ends extending from said springs and adapted to press the pad inward when tension is put upon said springs.

11. A truss, comprising a pad, having a recess in its face, a plate arranged in said recess contiguous to the bottom thereof, and a cap having a circumferential flange projecting into said recess and contiguous to the wall thereof, said cap having a series of elongated openings arranged in pairs.and extending through the edge of the flange thereof, means for securing said parts together, and spring tension devices arranged between said cap and plate and having connected outwardly extending arms projecting 1 specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. BUNKER.

Witnesses E. WHITNEY, EMIL F. GENNER'L. 

